My favorite wildflower is the columbine. The trail takes you through forest meadows with pine trees and the most beautiful wildflowers! Cecret Lake is about 10 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road and east of Salt Lake City, Utah. Cecret Lake (yes, that is the correct spelling) is a beautiful alpine lake that sits in the heart of Alta Ski Resort. For more information and to read the daily avalanche forecast please visit: https://utahava Cecret Lake Hike in 360 Degrees Albion Basin Alta, Utah. Albion Basin Hike. Please walk lightly in this area. This is the view of Cecret Lake from the north looking south. The Cecret Lake trailhead (40.577986, -111.612986) is located near the Albion Basin Campground at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.To reach the trailhead from I-215 in Salt Lake City: Take Exit 6 for 6200 S/Wasatch Blvd. This is a easy loop trail in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. I can’t find a reason why although I’ve read … Know Before You Go. This is a great hike. Sometimes this is referred to as Secret Lake. Cecret Lake is reached by driving up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Albion Basin above Alta Ski Resort. But why stop at the lake, when you can continue just one more mile and summit Sugarloaf Peak? #11: Albion Meadows Reroute | .5 miles (one-way) | Elevation Gain: 70 feet . As you hike up the trail, you will … Honestly…we never did find it and I felt like we hiked forever. Drive south on Wasatch Blvd. It started to get dark so we headed back to the car but this is a hike I’d love to do again and try to find the lake. Hours: The campground is open July – September. Albion Basin: Wildflowers and the Hike to Cecret Lake. My posts may contain affiliate links. I spent a couple of days in Snowbird Utah at the Cliff Lodge with friends. Explore the Mighty 5 – Utah’s National Parks, Find hiking trails around the country for your next adventure, https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/intermountain/AlbionBasin/, 5 Filming Locations for Goonies Fans to Visit, Best Hikes in Canyonlands National Park for Kids | Needles District, Visit Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah, Best Hikes in Kolob Canyon at Zion National Park, Camelback Mountain Hike: Echo Canyon Trail. Albion Basin is part of the Alta ski area, at the top of Salt Lake's Little Cottonwood Canyon. Be careful about going during peak times. The distance to Cecret Lake from the Albion Basin campground parking lot is 1.5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of only 458 feet. Your email address will not be published. As with any hike, it’s a good idea to have the right gear with you. It’ll make you want to move to Utah if you don’t already live here. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from May until September. But I don’t think they’ll be as prevalent as they are right now. A plethora of wildlife, wild flowers, and rock make this a superb summer climbing destination. (I saw two moose the first time I went on this hike!) Can anyone tell me if the flowers are I. This area is also prone to have wildlife including moose so keep your eyes peeled. Cecret Lake is a beautiful mountain lake at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Cecret Lake - Albion Basin, Utah Fact-- Cecret Lake (sometimes spelled Secret) is not a secret. Because it sits at approximately 9800 ft above sea level, it’s only accessible to hikers for about two months in the summer once the town of Alta opens the gate to allow cars to get to the trailhead. Biking or swimming/wading in the water is not allowed. The ride is a broad, smooth dirt road that climbs up to a camping area below Cecret Lake. Moose and deer frequent the basin and mountain goats can often be seen on the precipitous face of Devils Castle, just south of the campground. 07/10/2020 Andrea W. Andrea W. Gorgeous scenery and wildflowers. So maybe in the next week or so. Cecret Lake, also spelled Secret Lake, is located near the town of Alta in the Albion Basin, which is famous for wildflowers that bloom mid-July through August. After you drive to the very top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Albion Grill, you will find the trail just right behind the grill. From the Albion Basin Campground, the hike to Cecret Lake is 1.5 miles roundtrip. The trail takes you through forest meadows with pine trees and the most beautiful wildflowers! Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . You can find the schedule on their Website for various hikes and activities. Cecret Lake 12 / 36 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 47 Cosmic Web Wall 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / ... Albion Basin is one of the most beautiful areas in the entire wasatch. It is a great hike in so many ways – wildlife, wildflowers and scenery. Hiking is possible year round, but you may encounter snow November through May. Enjoy the walk through the upper meadows of Albion Basin. A repaired and improved Cecret Lake dam now on view in Little Cottonwood Canyon The thousands of visitors who hike into Little Cottonwood Canyon’s Albion Basin this summer for the annual wildflower bloom will notice a rehabbed dam at Cecret Lake. I spent a couple of days in Snowbird Utah at the Cliff Lodge with friends. Thank you. Pull into the Albion Basin Campground - you'll find the trailhead on the west side. Do you think there will still be flowers? Cecret Lake is a beautiful alpine lake high in the Wasatch Mountains that offers beautiful views of the Albion Basin and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Albion Basin path to Cecret Lake - Alta Utah. Hiking to Cecret Lake and Catherine's Pass via the Summer Road. It's easy enough for almost everyone but children find it enough of a challenge that they will feel a sense of accomplishment when they reach the lake. Cecret/Secret Lake, Albion Basin 1 mi Roundtrip, Easy, ~1 Hour RT, Limited Service/GPS. Cecret/Secret Lake, Albion Basin 1 mi Roundtrip, Easy, ~1 Hour RT, Limited Service/GPS. This trail accesses or travels through potential avalanche terrain. Cecret Lake is an excellent beginner hike and very popular. It is well-marked and easy to find. It’s where you’ll find some of the most colorful wildflowers. The basin hosts the Wasatch Wildflower Festival annually in late July or early August, complete with guided nature walks. (Updated Aug. 30, 2020). It is an adorable and hidden alpine lake located in Albion Basin near the city of Alta. Cecret Lake offers amazing views of the upper Albion Basin. In addition, there was the Albion Basin campground near … Most of this trail is in the sun so wear a hat … This weekend it was just perfect. Access from the Albion Meadows Trail, Cecret Lake Trailhead. I spent a couple of days in Snowbird Utah at the Cliff Lodge with friends. Sometimes this is referred to as Secret Lake. Cecret Lake is a small beautiful alpine lake in Albion Basin at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. I hiked through Alta to Cecret Lake. Salt Lake City Department of … If you start from the Albion Basin, there is no charge for parking and the hike is closer to 5 miles round trip with around 1200 ft gain. On weekends the parking lot is full and dozens of people will be relaxing around the shores of Cecret Lake. Albion Basin hike to Cecret Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. I was thinking of going today. I’ve been up hiking in Albion Basin and Cecret Lake three times. During the week, Alta charges $8/car to park at the Cecret Lake Trailhead. But why stop at the lake, when you can continue just one more mile and summit Sugarloaf Peak? It's easy enough for almost everyone but children find it enough of a challenge that they will feel a sense of accomplishment when they reach the lake. for 3.9 miles. Albion Basin is located in the heart of the central Wasatch Range, so pedaling through this magnificent alpine sanctuary far outweighs any discomfort experienced along the way. It is a popular, beautiful hike that leads to a gorgeous lake set just under Sugarloaf Peak. Since 1938, Alta Ski Area has been a steward of Little Cottonwood Canyon, working to revegetate the mountains left barren from late-19th and early-20th century miners. July-October (Albion Basin gate is closed at other times) *wildflowers in August!!! You can hike up to Cecret Lake any time (though it’s covered in snow and is part of Alta Ski Resort in the winter), July is when the wildflowers paint the mountains. Cecret Lake (pronounced like Secret) is a small alpine lake in Albion Basin which is within the town limits of Alta in the U.S. state of Utah. The Albion Basin area is one of the best and most accessible places for hikers to enjoy he outdoors. This easy 1 mile walk is great for kids, taking photos of the amazing wildflowers in July, and possibly sighting a moose. Cecret Lake Trail – Albion Basin Campground, Utah. The United States Geological Survey officially spells the name of this lake as "Cecret Lake".[1]. “Cecret Lake,” as originally spelled by resident miners, is also spelled “Secret Lake” on some maps and is approximately 450 feet higher than the trailhead in Albion Basin. The flowers are a little behind on the bloom. On Sunday we tried to hike Cecret Lake as a family, but it was too crowded. This trail goes by Cecret Lake and Albion Basin Campground. The distance to Cecret Lake from the Albion Basin campground parking lot is 1.5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of only 458 feet. There is snow there most of the year, but mid summer through early fall it is a wonderful family hike. Because it sits at approximately 9800 ft above sea level, it’s only accessible to hikers for about two months in the summer once the town of Alta opens the gate to allow cars to get to the trailhead. Cecret Lake, also spelled Secret Lake, is located near the town of Alta in the Albion Basin, which is famous for wildflowers that bloom mid-July through August. And some people spell it that way. There is snow there most of the year, but mid summer through early fall it is a wonderful family hike. The last 2.5 miles to the … . This is the view of meadows and wildflowers on the hike in Albion Basin on the approach to Cecret Lake. They really like the area – but if you’ve got kids, just help them understand that moose are wild animals. The Sunnyside Chairlift Trailhead parking area is approximately 2 miles past the town of Alta on … It is a popular, beautiful hike that leads to a gorgeous lake set just under Sugarloaf Peak. Know Before You Go. Cecret Lake (yes, it's spelled that way) and Albion Basin, up at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah. But most of the reading I’ve done show it spelled with a “C”. Take 210 , up the mountain on Little Cottonwood Canyon Road to Albion Basin Road, and past the ski resorts. Albion Basin is renowned for its vivid summer wildflowers. Address: Alta Ski Resort, up Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah. Easy, 458 elevation gain. A repaired and improved Cecret Lake dam now on view in Little Cottonwood Canyon The thousands of visitors who hike into Little Cottonwood Canyon’s Albion Basin this summer for the annual wildflower bloom will notice a rehabbed dam at Cecret Lake. See more ideas about albion basin, albion, utah. In addition, there was the Albion Basin… Aug 29, 2014 - Cecret Lake is about 10 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road and east of Salt Lake City, Utah. The last 2.5 miles to the campgrounds weren’t … The Indian paintbrush and the other colorful flowers of the high Utah mountains are a wonderful way to relax. This out-and-back is 3 miles each way, with 820 feet of altitude gain. The primary activities were hiking, rock climbing, and camping but dogs and bikes were not allowed. You’ll also come across many families or brides & grooms getting their photos taken. The wildflowers are in full force, wildlife wander through the mountains, and a family hike to Cecret Lake (pronounced secret lake) is good for the soul. This 1.8 mile round-trip takes hikers from Cecret Lake trailhead through the Albion Basin Campground and along a densely-forested single-track, and brings hikers to within a few hundred feet of the dark, looming walls of Devil’s Castle itself. We parked at the Albion Basin Campground, so you can put that into google maps. You can drive on a dirt road and get further up the canyon, but we enjoyed starting at the bottom of Albion Basin and hiking up to Cecret Lake. 2020 UPDATE: I haven’t hiked up to Albion Basin this year, but I follow several online Utah hiking forums. The colors of the flowers is quickly fading. 1-2 hours. There were restrooms near the trailhead but I did not see water. Albion Basin Campground (40.57639, -111.61278) The trail starts at the west side of the Albion Basin Campground, at the top of the Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. Parking was free. I’ve also read they recently started charging for the shuttle use. Your email address will not be published. I spent a couple of days in Snowbird Utah at the Cliff Lodge with friends. If traffic is too heavy, you may not be able to drive up the dirt road to park. Don’t blame me, blame the U.S. Forest Service. The hike to Cecret Lake (yes, that is how they spell it) is a little less than a mile and the elevation climb is a little less than 500 feet. . Be careful about going during peak times. There is a shuttle from the Alta Ski Resort to the Upper Meadows of Albion Basin. Get directions, reviews and information for Cecret Lake in Salt Lake City, UT. [4] This drinking water comes from several hundred inches of snow each year that lasts into July. That’s what it says on the sign pointing the way to Cecret Lake in Albion Basin, a high glacial cirque in the Wasatch mountains of Utah. It is not known why the name was spelled with a C instead of an S. Assumptions are that it was named by a miner working in the area. This easy 1 mile walk is great for kids, taking photos of the amazing wildflowers in July, and possibly sighting a moose. From the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, drive 11.1 miles to a parking lot on the left side of the road just before the entrance to Albion Basin Campground. It’s too late to see them in full force, but you might run into a few straggler flowers. The Cecret Lake trailhead (40.577986, -111.612986) is located near the Albion Basin Campground at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.To reach the trailhead from I-215 in Salt Lake City: Take Exit 6 for 6200 S/Wasatch Blvd. Cecret Lake (pronounced like Secret) is a small alpine lake in Albion Basin which is within the town limits of Alta in the U.S. state of Utah. Cecret Lake (yes, it's spelled that way) and Albion Basin, up at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon southeast of Salt Lake City, Utah. I just heard from a few people who have been up there within the last week and they said there is still some snow but the trails are open. The organizers do have hikes for people of all ages, but if you plan to do a larger hike with young kids, here are some ways to make hiking more fun – and help you keep some sanity.